Swamp-4

It would have been great if Hana’s broadcast was a complete and utter failure, but that wasn’t the case.

After she hastily ended the broadcast, she disabled all commenting on her station and YouTube channel.

It was a move worthy of a seasoned broadcaster who had been through thick and thin.

The criticism and attention directed at her would be sky-high for the time being, but if she blocked her eyes and ears and endured for two months, she would definitely be hit less hard than now.

It would be great to see the tower she had built collapse all at once, but I think I have to be satisfied with this level of achievement for now.

I consider it half a success.

Besides, this isn’t the only opportunity I’ll have. I’ll release the recordings one by one each time she comes back.

Her broadcasting hiatus will become increasingly longer.

Eventually, she’ll be forced to broadcast with a thick skin due to financial problems, and that’s when I’ll detonate the biggest bomb to grab attention.

“Lalala-lala-lala.”

Even though I skipped my morning workout, I feel refreshed.

The thought of landing a blow on Hana makes me hum involuntarily.

The current time is 9 a.m.

I’m in front of Garam’s house.

I’m here to talk to the center owner about how to fix the wrecked center.

I also need to soothe her, as she must still be feeling uneasy.

I was too busy with Hana’s situation yesterday to contact her properly, so I’m a bit worried.

Garam: Okay. I’ll be waiting.

Considering the reply I got to my KakaoTalk message yesterday, it doesn’t seem like she’s in a very serious situation.

-Knock knock

I lightly tap on the door with my index and middle fingers.

The steel door, with its peeling paint, rang out forlornly.

Is she still asleep?

I put a little more force into my knocks than before.

-Knock knock knock

No response. I can’t hear anyone moving inside.

Surely… not?

-Bang bang

I knock on the door a little harder.

“Garam! Garam!”

I call out Garam’s name, who I assume is inside, and bang on the door with my fist.

The sound of my fist hitting the door makes the house feel like it’s shaking.

“Aish… should I call 119?”

Just as I was contemplating whether to call 119 in case of the worst-case scenario, I heard a sound from inside.

Footsteps approaching.

The sound of slippers shuffling on the floor from the entrance, and then the door creaked open.

“Ah, you’re here? Dad?”

Garam, with dark shadows under her eyes, greeted me listlessly.

“Are you… okay? No, more importantly, Dad?”

I asked her back, dumbfounded by the absurd title, but she smiled faintly.

“I’m almost ready. Please wait a little longer.”

She said to me, blocking the front door as if to prevent me from entering.

“Should I wait inside, then?”

“It’ll only be a moment.”

-Slam!

The door slammed shut in my face, and I could only stand there for a moment with a blank expression.

W-what’s going on…

Her bright smile was the Garam I knew, but her appearance was not.

Eyes devoid of life, dark circles, and the red marks that were visible on her arms and neck.

It had only been a day.

Just one day, the time I had left her alone…

My mouth felt bitter for no reason.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, Garam, who had finished preparing, opened the door and came out.

“Did you wait long?”

“Oh? Your clothes…”

Garam’s usual attire is tracksuits.

The only thing that changes is the color.

Today, she’s wearing a brown dress that exudes the ambiance of autumn. I wonder where she got it.

“I wanted to feel a little different. How is it?”

She twirled around once, speaking in a coquettish voice.

Ugh… I can’t get used to it.

Her dress was a little unusual. It was definitely a long dress that covered her entire body, but it clung to her body in a way that revealed her curves without reservation.

But I was more drawn to the scratches on her arms and neck that were subtly revealed than to her suggestive appearance.

“What’s with your neck and arms…?”

“…Haha, it’s nothing. I think I scratched myself in my sleep.”

She’s telling a lie that no one would believe.

I figured it would be useless to press her further, so I just nodded.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“I haven’t either.”

“Then shall we eat together?”

Garam’s eyes sparkled as she linked her arm with mine.

She subtly pressed her body against me, causing me to take a few steps back.

“Yes, yes… let’s eat. But it’s uncomfortable to move like this… so let go.”

I shook my body to try to release her arm, but her grip only tightened.

“……”

Before I knew it, Garam had her face close to my shoulder, and in her eyes, as she looked up at me, I saw a desire that seemed best left untouched.

I need to seriously consider how to overcome this situation when I get home today.

“Then, where shall we go?”

I gave up on everything, let out a long sigh, and asked her. The answer that came back was exactly what I expected.

“I’m fine with anything.”

It was a really awkward time to eat out, so we went to a nearby snack bar.

I felt a little self-conscious about not sticking to the diet I had always followed, but Garam didn’t say anything.

I ordered kimbap and ramen, and Garam ordered a pork cutlet set.

I blinked at her mismatched order, and Garam offered an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.

“I have no energy at all. I couldn’t eat properly yesterday either…”

Judging from her words and appearance, it seemed like she hadn’t eaten a proper meal yesterday.

It’s not an exaggeration, I can see that her cheeks are sunken.

“You don’t need to make excuses, since I’m not managing your trainer’s diet.”

I chuckled and picked up the water bottle to pour water into her cup.

After pouring water into Garam’s cup first and handing it to her, Garam gave me a mysterious smile and drank the entire cup of water in one go.

Glug glug.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed the cold water, and she stared at me intently.

In the past, she wouldn’t have been able to hold eye contact for more than 3 seconds before shyly looking away.

“You’re so kind. Dad.”

Garam, who had been staring at me, opened her mouth.

As that title that I kept getting hung up on came out, I cut her off.

“Garam. I’m fine with everything, but could you please refrain from calling me Dad…?”

I know she’s in an unstable mental state, but what’s not okay is not okay.

My actions of comforting her and taking responsibility for her don’t include the title ‘Dad’ as an option.

“Why?”

She asked back so confidently that I was left speechless.

She snatched the water bottle from me and poured water into my cup.

The water flowed from the plastic spout, making a gurgling sound.

“You take such good care of me…”

“I can’t help but rely on you…”

“You’re the only one in this world who’s on my side, Boss.”

“Can’t I call you Dad?”

Garam, who had filled the cup to the brim as if it were about to overflow, threw me a fastball without mincing her words.

I felt that this cup of water, which seemed like it would overflow if even one more drop fell, was somehow similar to the current situation.